Bunked Down In Dawson City

Ya, that whole looks like a perfect weather forecast thing from a day or two ago…. poof, gone just like that.   This time instead of running off somewhere (like Juneau) senselessly chasing “better” weather I opted to bunk down in Dawson City and wait for a maybe possibly promising forecast starting the upcoming weekend.   With Dawson City basically at the start of the Dempster Highway I can be heading North the moment the weather turns to the better,   I was always planning a few days in Dawson but for recovery from the Dempster not in anticipation. 

The first morning in Dawson was a little reminiscent of the first morning in Whitehorse - going over the bike and making sure everything was in good order for the next segment.  The zipper on the waterproof duffel has also started not fully zippering so I explored the limited store options in town looking for any that might stock zipper lube/wax.  None did but the hardware store was well stocked with Crayola crayons, and now I have a selection of colorful options for all my zippers 

When sitting down with all the maps, calendars and other trip planning stuff it was quickly apparent that I could be someplace interesting for both Canada Day (July 1) and July 4.  Plan A was formed to be in Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk July 1 and then Chicken Alaska July 4.  With the weather not cooperating, Plan A fell apart as did the July 4 segment in any plan.  But current geopolitical circumstances considered I thought it more important to proudly stand with the Maple Leaf fluttering in the wind than play a part in the chorus heralding an orange messiah.  So Canada Day in Dawson City it was to be - and this is no second tier alternative in the pecking order of interesting places.  The town came out strong for the parade with everyone in town it seemed dressed in red and white… although I didn’t get that memo.

With the weather forecasts all more or less aligning towards a drier week ahead it looked promising for a Friday afternoon departure with the intention of camping overnight at the Tombstone Mountain campground.  A short-ish 45 or so miles north up The Dempster Highway.   While there was a definite chance of some light rain with cool to chilly temperatures through that first night and start of the next day I would be threading the weather needle early on regardless of when I left unless waiting out until the middle of the week.  An (other), extension for the room I was in was not possible and the only other available option was pitching a tent somewhere in town.  And seeing as I was also running out of Parks Canada guided tours to join figured the signs were all there to hit the road.